Early to rise and a nice coffee & breakfast out of our handy little kitchen… Decked out with all the necessities! Janie left for the day and headed for workshops while I contemplated some exploring. I’d checked out some local trails and eateries the night before, so I headed out to see what I could find. In essence, I spent the day roaming Rte 450 along the southern side of the Bay of Islands in search of rural Newfoundland.
So the drive, which winds its way along the edge of the bay squeezed between mountain range and picturesque coastal communities, is stunning. Sprinkles of rain, sun showers, heavy winds and sunny breaks all factored in the days’s weather offering. My first real stop was Blow Me Down Provincial Park. I read 5 Star reviews about a trail that winds up to the heights that overlook that area of the bay. Upon arrival, and $10 at the gate, I was treated to an empty trail, featuring boardwalk, stairs, open trail and the pretty cool Governor’s Staircase!
Further down at the very end of Rte 450, after passing some old school Newfoundland fishing villages, is the classy cove of Little Port. Scenic to the highest degree. Here I got out, got some excellent pics, then embarked on a 2km hike down Cedar Cove Trail. The trail, which would be of lower to moderate difficulty, skirts through boreal forest, along the edge of a salt marsh, and eventually drops the traveller on a broad gravel beach at Cedar Cove (aptly named as the area hosts wind worn low bush eastern cedar). Great walk… If I was a moose I think it would be a great place to take up residence!
Back at the car, I gathered up for a short drive to the Bottle Cove Boardwalk, where I set up at an empty table for a picnic lunch. It was such a quiet morning, to the extent that I hadn’t met a person on any of the 2-3 hrs I’d spent on trails. After sorting through some of my pictures, I found one of my favorites of the trip of Cedar Cove (see above). At this point, I found myself an 1 1/2 driving time from accommodations, so I started to pick my way back to Corner Brook.
Just outside the centre of Corner Brook, high above the city, is the Capt James Cook Monument. Although I associated the name with the Pacific and exploration of the Hawaiin Islands, it seems Cook mapped this area of Newfoundland earlier in his military career. His work as a cartographer is celebrated by a monument which overlooks the bay he so aptly charted.
We decided on eating out for supper and after reaching out to Troy (who had spent time in the city prior to hosting ECMA’s in Corner Brook) for a recommendation, we settled on Gitanos. The setting was quiet, food and wine were excellent, and we shared stories and pictures from our first day in Corner Brook. Nicely done!